Mount Hood

Leading by example, Club Sports Players of the Year

Hannah Greene |  Sports Editor

Following the Rookies of the Year, The Western Howl presents the Club Players of the Year — voted on by you, the fans, teammates, coaches, the Assistant Club Sports Director and the Club Sports Supervisor. Though there are many great and recognizable athletes among us, these two earned every part of this acknowledgement. Below are the two Club Sports Players of the Year.

 

Men’s Rugby

Trever Kahunahana 

Junior

3rd year on the team

Kahunahana was the team captain and led by example — always putting in the extra hours whether at the gym or on the field on off days. He continued to push his teammates alongside him. As a team captain, he represented the core values of Men’s Rugby and made an impact in every second he played. Kahunahana, even injured, was a force to be reckoned with — proving that size truly does not matter.

Kahunahana was dedicated, with a solid work ethic that showed on the pitch, never allowing anything or anyone to get in his way. Along with his dedication, he also showed commitment to his teammates, creating a stronghold that was unbreakable 

Kahunahana was not only recognized as captain and a strong component on the team, but he also received the 1st team all-conference Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference, NCRC.

 

Women’s Soccer

Kawehi Taniguchi

Senior

2nd year on the team

Taniguchi brought her A-game every second — being one of the most consistent players on the team. Her creativity, passing accuracy and shooting ability made her a dominant figure, not only in the midfield, but also as a starting player in every lineup. Taniguchi is a highly technical player with the ability to do the unexpected. Her first touch and dribbling ability created more possession and drive for the team — which in turn produced opportunities for herself and teammates to shoot on goal. Taniguchi has a high soccer IQ on and off the field, as well as versatility — proving she can play any position. Her spirit and intensity were a driving force behind the numerous wins that the Women’s Club Soccer team were able to attain.

Taniguchi is a hard worker with great determination, displayed during practices and games. She is a natural leader that supported her teammates and pushed them every step of the match.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photo by Hannah Greene

Photo courtesy of Matthew Texter

Plans for reopening are created amidst riots at the Capitol

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

Driving down the highway, the signs portray a clear message: “Stay at home. Save lives.” But some Oregonians feel that the stay-at-home measures are damaging, or worse — unconstitutional. Though Oregon saw 60 new cases of COVID-19 over Mother’s Day weekend, reports show that the virus has been slowing down. With Marion County second only to Multnomah in terms of COVID-19 cases, Oregon had 3,228 cases with 127 deaths in total as of Sunday, May 10, according to the New York Times. But, applications for unemployment are steadily creeping past 380,000 in total — one week in April saw the numbers top 93,000, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting — and Oregonians are understandably concerned about their livelihoods. On May 2, Salem saw over 1,000 citizens attend a rally at the capitol with the goal of having their message heard: they want Oregon to reopen.

In response, Governor Kate Brown has developed a framework for Oregon’s reopening, but it will be a gradual process with multiple phases. Phase One calls for continued social distancing and the minimizations of non-essential travel; Phase Two would allow for larger gatherings, non-essential travel to resume, and for schools and gyms to reopen; Phase Three allows for individuals to begin visiting nursing homes again, for restaurants to increase their capacity, and for workplaces to allow staff to return. 

Already, some parks and recreation areas have reopened, but their access is contingent upon individuals continuing social-distancing measures. And, although Oregon has barely entered Phase One and Brown has not released a specific timeline, Brown has reportedly stated that some rural communities could reopen by mid-May. In the meantime, Brown calls for citizens to continue practicing social distancing as well as increased testing for the virus. 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photo by Sage Kiernan Sherrrow

As COVID-19 endures, some public state universities are losing funding

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

Following the news of low-enrollment and an overall $1.3 million deficit, Western is facing another financial crisis. As COVID-19 spreads, not only are universities losing money in the housing and dining departments, but public and state colleges and universities also have the potential to lose part of their state funding — the same state funding that makes up 40% of Western’s revenue. In Oregon, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission estimates that public universities and community colleges are losing $130 million due to the pandemic, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. To combat this, Oregon colleges and universities have had to make some difficult decisions; right now, over 285 University of Oregon employees are laid off. According to OPB, “universities will receive some relief from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act — $126.7 million for Oregon’s private and public colleges. But half of the money going to each school is required to help students, rather than bailing out university and college budgets.” So what does this mean for Western, specifically?

On May 6, President Rex Fuller sent out a statement saying that the university expects low enrollment to continue and that to combat the increasing deficit, Western is making changes to employee pay. 

The email stated, “the university eliminated vacant classified and unclassified positions, laid off some classified employees, non-renewed some unclassified employees, reduced FTE for select administrative personnel, and froze all unclassified salaries for FY 2020-21.”

Two programs, the Leave Without Pay (LWOP) and the Furlough program are being implemented; both run until Aug. 31, allowing employees certain rights like insurance, but essentially laying off individuals indefinitely or until their case is reviewed after the three-month period.

Vice President of Finance and Administration, Dr. Ana Karaman, said that to come to this decision, they were asked to run scenarios that would allow for an overall 17% decrease in funding. 

Currently, negotiations are occuring with the union, but Fuller asserts that the university’s goal is still “to retain as many employees as possible.”

In April, the Board of Trustees approved a tuition rate increase of 4.55%, another measure taken to combat the loss of funding and low-enrollment fees. This, combined with the IFC’s final decision to switch to a two-tier structure — where students with five credits or less pay less in fees than those with six credits or more — will change Western’s financial landscape. 

“Right now, fall’s numbers look good, but we have a history of downtrend. We don’t want to build the budget on hope, we want to build it on trend,” said Dr. Karaman.

Karaman hopes that students help advocate for Western to retain support when legislation is back in session, and that they will set an example through their success so that this process will have been worthwhile. 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Let’s get this bread: hopping on the bread making train

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

A trend that has been circling around on various social media platforms is bread baking. According to cnn.com, it’s possible that people are using it to help preoccupy themselves during this time of social distancing. As a result, minds are occupied and stomachs are full; for those who have been thinking of hopping on the bread-making train, here’s a recipe to try at home.

 

HOMEMADE BREAD

Start to finish: 4 hours

Servings: 2 loaves (16 slices each)

1 package (¼ ounce) active dry yeast

2 ¼ cups of warm water (110° to 115°F)

3 tablespoons and ½ teaspoon of sugar

1 tablespoon salt

2 tablespoons canola oil

6 ¼ to 6 ¾ cups of bread flour

 

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and ½ teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let it stand until bubbles form on the surface. Whisk together the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Stir oil into yeast mixture. Pour into flour mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, to form a soft dough.

Turn onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1 ½ to 2 hours.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9×5-inch loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 1 ½ hours.

Bake at 375° F until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped or has reached an internal temperature of 200°F, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks for cooling.

 

Recipe from tasteofhome.com

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photos by Rylie Horrall

This week in completely made up horoscopes

[fruitful_tabs type=”accordion” width=”100%” fit=”false”]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] You? ME? Who? We! 

I’m okay, I swear. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] Twizzlers solve everything, especially in an apocalypse, so stock up. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] Virgo is just out here to rip your heart out. If you know, you know. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] You guys realize the government just confirmed that aliens exist, right? You guys realize that, right? RIGHT?! [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] Man, Aquarius really said we live in a society. ¦¬) [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] It’s only the matter of time before our government executes Order 66. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] God’s Plague Inc score must be off the charts [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] I’ll fight an alien, I don’t care. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] STREAM SAVAGE REMIX BY MEGAN THEE STALLION (FEAT. BEYONCÉ). [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] Check in with any Cancers you know today (I think they’re going a little nuts). [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] Maybe we are the virus [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] You ever wonder if we’re all just Sims in a really, really wild game of Sims 2: Double Deluxe? [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

How to un-mess your messy hair

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

If you’re like me, self-isolation could be making students ponder changing their hair more than normal — personally, I’m only one breakdown away from dying my hair. However, I don’t actually want to dye my hair, I just want something different or new in my life amidst all this monotony. To cope with this, I’ve been searching and trying out new hairstyles; here are some of the interesting ones.

For turning straight hair curly without using heat, take either a bathrobe rope, socks, pantyhose or something similar and clip it into the hair. Wrap strands of damp hair around the article tightly, but not painfully so, in a criss-cross fashion. For waves, braid the object in the hair as if it was a section of hair. Leave it in overnight, undo it in the morning and brush it out.

Buns are a quick hairdo that can be done within seconds — it’s my go-to whenever I need my hair off of my neck. If someone’s hair is longer, there’s the option of doing a braided bun; to start off, tie the hair into a low ponytail. Braid it loosely and tie off the end, pulling at some of the strands to add volume. Take the braid and wrap it around the base like a bun, and secure any loose ends with bobby pins.

Have shorter hair and can’t fit it all into a ponytail, let alone a bun? Take half of the hair and pull it towards the top, like a high ponytail. Lace the hair halfway through a hair tie with one hand, then twist it while holding the hair in the other. Pull the hair through, then pull and twist to style as desired.

For those who want to keep their hair down and out of their face, try making a headband using hair. Separate two front pieces and tie the rest into a ponytail or bun to keep out of the way. Take the two front strands and secure them at the nape of the neck with a small elastic or thin hair tie, then let the rest of the hair down. To add some flare, braid the strands or twist them before tying them off.

If styling isn’t preferred or a person’s hair is too short, get a bandana that might be lying around and fold it diagonally. Section off two framing strands — or don’t, if they aren’t wanted — and put the rest of the hair in a ponytail, if it’s long enough. Grab the ends of the bandana and flip it so that it lays flat behind the strands. Tie the ends of it at the nape of the neck and then take out the hair from the ponytail. Alternatively, the bandana can be placed at the back of the neck and be tied at the top near the framing pieces. If this is done, tuck in the corners of the fabric that are sticking out.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photos by Rylie Horrall

Nature’s way of Recycling

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Compost is made up of decayed or decaying organic material and could be compared to nature-style recycling. According to lessismore.org, food and yard waste make up between 25 to 50% of trash that is thrown away. Because it can make up such a large portion of garbage, composting can significantly reduce the amount of overall trash someone procures.

Most, if not all, organic matter that is thrown away in the kitchen or garden can be composted. For instance, coffee grounds and even paper filters can be put into a compost bin, along with tea bags, old newspapers, toothpicks, matches, pet and human hair, cut flowers and egg shells — but not the yolks or whites. 

Goodhousekeeping.com states that when composting, one should “aim for equal amounts of ‘green’ waste and ‘brown’ waste to keep (compost) healthy.” Fruits and vegetables are common ‘green’ waste — or anything that can supply nitrogen — and ‘brown’ waste can consist of dry leaves and wood shavings — things that are rich in carbon. If both elements are balanced correctly, it should smell like earthy dirt; making sure that the compost bin is somewhere where it can receive enough oxygen and moisture will keep it from turning rotten.

It’s important to note that if a plant is infected with insects or a disease of some sort, it shouldn’t be added into the compost. According to goodhousekeeping.com, it can contaminate the pile and render it useless. Dairy and animal products such as bones should also just be thrown away, as the smell can become unpleasant or attract animals. 

Compost bins should be around 3 feet in diameter and ideally be placed outside, possibly in a backyard. It can have a closed top as well, for those who are worried about the smell or look of the compost. To prevent animals from messing with it, it’s advised to set up fencing or chicken wire around it. 

After a few weeks, all the scraps will turn to soil that can be used for fertilizing a garden, which reduces the need to buy fertilizer. Some added benefits are that both water and trash bills can be reduced, as the compost can be moist enough as fertilizer that plants can be watered less, and the amount of trash being thrown out is lessened. 

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Sleeping at Last album pairs with personality test

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

The human mind is a complicated system of neurons firing, but does it affect one’s personality? 

Over the decades, there have been countless personality tests, some successful — such as the Myers Briggs test — and some not as successful, like the Rorschach Inkblot test.

The Enneagram test is something quite interesting; it was originally used in the 1950s by Oscar Ichazo on spiritual development. Within this test, there are nine dominant personality types — most people identify strongly with one, but after completing the online test, it lists which types you had the highest percentage in. It is believed that the three highest in a person’s score is their personality.

The test itself is fun and eye-opening, but the band Sleeping at Last compiled an album where each song is sung through the perspective of each personality type, creating powerful tunes. The album is called “Atlas: Enneagram” and the songs are simply titled “One” through “Nine.”

I am a type two, and when I first heard of the album I didn’t think much about it. However, listening to the song “Two” brought me to tears. The lyrics are touching and perfectly captured how I feel. Sleeping at Last is a folk-indie band with soothing vocals and haunting melodies, and they impressed me with this album. 

I made my closest friends and family take the test and listening to their songs I was touched and so were they. Each song perfectly captures how each type feels in a surprisingly emotional way.

The Enneagram test is, of course, flawed just like any personality test, but for those who are interested in learning their types and crying to their song, the test can be taken at http://9types.com/.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of sleepingatlast.com

Southern Oregon Theatre company offers new online platform

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a large annual event where dozens of shows are performed. It is no surprise that the event had to be altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but luckily the Southern Oregon Theatre Company has found a new way to connect millions to their performances.

The Southern Oregon Theatre Company has created a new digital platform called O!; by May 6, they plan to release previously recorded performances, documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and educational videos.

The company had started their season on March 6 in Ashland, just three days after the first confirmed COVID-19 case. After Kate Brown’s stay-at-home order, the company had to cancel productions and let go of 400 employees.

While the company has promoted O! as a way to engage audiences with theater during these times, they still plan to host the Oregon Shakespeare Festival from Sept. 8 to Nov. 1 if possible. 

O! was originally meant to be released during 2021, but the company decided to premiere early to keep people excited about theater. The platform contents will be almost completely free, and there will be other forms of media available such as podcasts and interactive videos.

For those that are interested in seeing what is available, check out the website: https://osfashland.uscreen.io/

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

And the Club Sports Rookie of the Year goes to…

Hannah Greene |  Sports Editor

With the 2020 season put to an end, the time for Club Sports awards and recognition has come. Below are the Rookies of the Year, voted unanimously by the fans, — students, teammates, coaches — Assistant Club Sports Director and Club Sports Supervisor. Each athlete selected deserves this recognition not only for their participation in the club, but for their work ethic on and off the pitches.

 

Men’s Rookie of the Year

Player – Jorge Trujillo from Men’s Club Soccer

Year – Sophomore

Achievement – Trujillo led the team in points and scored important goals throughout the playoffs to help the team win the Men’s CCSL Second Division Championship. 

Work Ethic – Trujillo always showed his enthusiasm to contribute to the club by working hard at practice and delivering goals in the games. Trujillo was one of the most involved players in the team when it came to activities off the field. 

Noteworthy – Trujillo has volunteered in the Salem-Keizer school district, where he has gone into PE classes to share his knowledge about being a student-athlete and a soccer player. 

 

Women’s Rookie of the Year

Player – Jeydawn Coates from the Dance Team

Year – Junior

Achievement – Coates performed with the biggest smile on her face whenever she had the opportunity and showed up to every practice ready to learn. 

Work Ethic – Always had great energy and a great work ethic, even if she wasn’t in the performance for that week. Coates made all her teammates laugh and feel good.

Noteworthy – Works at Dutch Bros with a great attitude, does great in school. 

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Emily Prall

Photo courtesy of Jasmine Morrow

The final finish for Coach Johnson

Hannah Greene |  Sports Editor

Coach Mike Johnson of the cross country and track and field programs has retired after coaching for 16 years at Western Oregon University. Johnson has helped both the cross country and track and field teams win championships, as well as taken them to Nationals — almost every year since he started.
Before joining the Wolves, Johnson was able to make a name for himself coaching at quite a few distinguished schools, including Highline Community College, Eastern Washington University, University of Portland, University of Washington and Boise State University — while also being an assistant coach here at Western for three seasons before taking on the role as head coach in 2004. 

Not only does Johnson have titles at Western amongst the cross country and track and field teams: but also he coached the teams at Washington that won two Pac-10 cross country championships. Johnson was able to help Portland’s cross country team win seven consecutive West Coast Conference titles. Johnson’s feats do not end there — while a Pilot, Johnson founded the women’s program and earned himself a spot in the Portland Hall of Fame. 

The titles and honors do not end, with Johnson earning Pac-10 Coach of the Year three times, NCAA West Regional Cross Country Coach of the Year four times and earned NAIA National Coach of the Year. 

For 16 years, Johnson has made an impact in multiple student-athlete’s lives and an impact on Western’s campus. Johnson will be greatly missed, but his titles and influence will carry on.

 

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu

ASWOU elections are open until May 8, click here to find out which candidates to support

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

Students have until 8 p.m. on May 19 to submit their ballots for the Oregon primaries. But here at Western, students have the ability to contribute their votes in another important election — student government. ASWOU is Western’s collective student government which mimics that of the national government system, with three branches — the executive cabinet, judicial board and the senate — each with their own unique roles in assisting the campus community. Each year, students have the opportunity to vote in the ASWOU elections and decide who will be representing them in the upcoming year. This year, the positions for President, Vice President, Senate President, Judicial Administrator, Justice and Incidental Fee Committee Member are open and students are able to vote on WOUEngage through May 8. Students can learn more about the candidates and their positions by visiting wou.edu/aswou/elections/ or by reading the following:

 

Candidate for President: N.J. Johnson

Johnson currently serves as the Director of State and Federal Affairs under ASWOU’s executive cabinet. As such, he states that he is “the only candidate for President that has experience working within the executive branch of ASWOU and with the Oregon State Legislature,” where he has led a team in advocating for student needs. As President, he plans to continue “pushing our legislative priorities,” which include fighting “for higher state funding, food insecurity solutions and a DREAMers access program,” he says. He values collaboration and wants to continue to work with campus organizations as well as the Oregon Student Association to “promote the goals of students across the state of Oregon.” As President, he will strive for fairness, transparency, and inclusivity and stand up to the WOU administration when these values are jeopardised and students are undervalued. He is endorsing Maria Barerra for Vice President, Kevin Figueroa for Senate President, and Steven Richmond for Judicial Administrator. 

 

Candidates for Vice President: Maria Barerra and Litzy Loeza

Maria Barerra: 

Former Director of Multicultural Advocacy in ASWOU Maria Barerra is a DACA Recipient and a first generation college student. She is also an avid and vocal advocate against social injusticesI was able to overcome adversity through my college experience at Western. The importance of her advocacy is why she wants to run for Vice President. Her qualifications include holding numerous leadership positions such as positions through the UNIDOS Club, as a Multicultural Mentor, and an Oregon Student Association board member. She strives to “ensure that all students are being represented” and “promote equality and recognition,” while continuing “the efforts of providing a physical and permanent safe space for students to be able to express their identities and culture freely,” she says. She has endorsed N.J Johnson for President, Kevin Figueroa for Senate President, and Steven Richmond for Judicial Administrator. 

 

Litzy Loeza:

Loeza is an experienced student leader “working for growth, transformation, and inclusiveness.” Previously, she worked with Latinx and Immigrant Communities in Portland Community College’s DREAMer Center. As a Psychology and Sociology major, she is passionate about fighting social injustices and does so through her role as a current ASWOU Senator. She also holds multiple leadership roles through the MECHA Club and as a Multicultural Representative mentor. She believes “our community can create an inclusive environment, support the rights of students, and make educational success attainable” and promises to use her platform to “advocate for our rights as students and promote changes within our education system to ensure student success.” She endorses Marilyn Maldonado-Dominguez as President, Liz Marquez Gutiererrez as Senate President, and Denisse Carrasco as Judicial Administrator.

 

Senate President Candidates: Kevin Figueroa, Liz Marquez, and Diana Ordaz

Kevin Figueroa

Figueroa is a first generation college student looking to “empower student leaders to promote change for those who also struggle.” During the 2018-19 school year, he served as the Director of State and Federal Affairs through ASWOU and has significant experience working to create legislation beneficial for students. He strives for cooperation between all branches of student government to ensure productivity and wants to remain involved with advocacy even after graduation. He endorses N.J. Johnson for President, Maria Barerra for Vice President, and Steven Richmond for Judicial Administrator.

 

Liz Marquez

Marquez has served on the ASWOU Senate for over two years and has developed experience in writing and sponsoring legislation “to protect students’ rights and improve student life.” She considers higher education accessibility and affordability to be an important issue and has advocated for this issue through her previous position as a member of the Tuition and Fee Advisory Committee. She also brought these issues to the capitol, where she worked alongside the Oregon Student Association to educate legislators about their relevance. She is determined to “work on issues that students have expressed interest in,” and wants to “encourage and empower students to get involved and participate in the ASWOU senate.” She endorses Marilyn Maldonado Dominguez for President, Litzy Loeza for Vice President, and Denisse Carrasco for Judicial Administrator. 

 

Diana Ordaz

A “passionate and hardworking student,” and “a friend to all,” Ordaz believes that her open-mindedness and caring personality makes her an excellent candidate for Senate President. She chose to run for Senate President because she “heard so many students’ issues and can relate to many of them.” She is committed to helping the WOU community by communicating “(students’) ideas, thoughts and issues,” through her platform.

 

Judicial Administrator Candidates: Denisse Carrasco and Steven Richmond

Denisse Carrasco

Carrasco says she has felt “underrepresented and not understood” as a first-generation college student. As such, she feels strongly about making sure students feel a part of the campus community, and is dedicated to uplifting “underrepresented communities and their diverse needs.” She has devoted hundreds of hours to organizations like MECHA and ASWOU, and is an advocate for multiculturalism as an MCR mentor. Carrasco hopes to be a  “support system for students and student clubs,” and to increase outreach for these clubs which “enhance the student experience at WOU.” She feels “it is important for WOU students to feel a sense of empowerment, support, and belonging, in any institution they attend,” and is endorsing Marilyn Maldonado Dominguez for President, Litzy Loeza for Vice President, and LIz Marquez for Senate President. 

 

Steven Richmond

Richmond is a future law school student with “an extensive background in legal work” due to working for two Oregon state representatives. He founded the Jackson County Young Democrats Caucus, was Vice President for South Medford’s Debate Team, and was Secretary for WOU’s Model United Nations Club. He considers himself to have a “deep appreciation, respect, and care for the judicial process.” As Judicial Administrator, he plans to make sure all clubs are treated fairly and hold all ASWOU officials accountable to the constitution. He assures that “this campaign isn’t about personal goals or pushing an agenda, it’s about helping ASWOU become the best possible government it can be for its students by upholding fairness, inclusion, and justice for everyone equally.” He endorses N.J Johnson for President, Maria Barrera for Vice President, and Kevin Figueroa for Senate President.

 

Justice Candidate: Taylor Bartholomew

A current Sophomore and Criminal Justice Major, Bartholomew has an interest in working with “individuals within the system that are in need of psychological rehabilitation, specifically victims of abuse and other trauma-related events.” She has “always enjoyed providing an ear to individuals that need emotional support and am always willing to help establish boundaries when need be.” As ASWOU Justice, Bartholomew plans to provide students with a fair and balanced Justice system.

 

Incidental Fee Committee Member Candidate: Makana Waikiki

Waikiki says” a vote for me would be a vote for yourselves.” She wants to vocalize every students concerns when it comes to their fees and strives to make informed decisions about the IFC process. She wants to establish a legacy where future IFC members are provided with the best tools and plans in place so that “every student gets everything they should out of their IFC funds.”

Students also have the ability to “write in” any person they think would be qualified for the positions. Students have until Friday, May 8 to submit their votes and results will be released shortly thereafter. Anyone with questions can email aswouelections@mail.wou.edu for more information.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of ASWOU

Western implements new weekly live Q&A sessions over social media to connect with students during the COVID-19 crisis

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

Western is now holding weekly live Q&A sessions over Instagram and Twitter to provide support to and connect with both current and future students. The sessions occur from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursdays and cover everything from financial concerns, to questions about commencement. We reached out to Lisa Catto, the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications at Western, to answer some questions about this new resource.

 

Q: How did the idea for weekly Q&A’s develop and what is its overall purpose?

A: The idea was a joint effort between Strategic Communications and Marketing and the Admissions office. We tried to come up with ways to connect with prospective students since we had to cancel some in-person Admissions events due to COVID-19. The first live Q&A was held on March 26, in lieu of the planned Spring Break Visit event that day. 

 

Q: What has the outcome been like? Has the project seen a lot of interaction and received positive reactions?

A: The first Q&A was so successful that we decided to broaden the focus to all students and invite more departments to participate in a weekly event. We added several more departments who have representatives on-hand every Thursday at the scheduled time, including Student Engagement, the Student Enrichment Program, Transfer Pathway, the Business Office, and Graduate Programs. The response has been very positive. Students seem to appreciate the opportunity to get a quick response to their questions.The number of questions has ranged from 20 to more than 50 depending on the week, the majority of which coming through the question tool on our Instagram story. 

 

Q: What topic is most frequently asked about?

A: Most of the questions have been about specifics connected to housing, financial aid, and admissions requirements. The overarching majority of questions have been about housing, things like finding roommates, selecting a room, etc… The second most popular topic has been financial aid and scholarships.

 

Q: How can Western students get the most out of this resource? 

A: Students can get the most out of this resource by setting an alarm or calendar reminder to head to WOU’s Instagram or Facebook account at the designated time. If someone can’t make it at that time, they could head over to WOU’s Facebook page to find the “event” for the weekly Q&A. In the event description, there’s a link to a form where students can submit their questions in advance and we’ll post the question and answer on the net live Q&A post.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Headline: Congress establishes the CARE Act, Western students could reap the benefits

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

Western students have until noon on Friday, May 8 to apply for funds made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Through the CARES Act, approximately $2 million has been allocated to help Oregon college and university students offset the expenses accrued because of COVID-19. Students are eligible for this grant if they are currently enrolled in in-person or hybrid courses, are likewise eligible for financial aid, and have had COVID-19 directly impact their living expenses. According to an email sent out by Western’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Gary Dukes, on May 6, Western “will screen the applications for eligibility and assign a score based on impact … because we have received limited emergency funds, it is possible that not every student who completes an application will receive funds.” However, Dukes also revealed that they are seeing fewer students apply for these funds than expected.

“We can’t tell if students aren’t reading their emails, or feel they are fine and don’t need assistance.  I actually received one message from a student who thanked me for the e-mail but felt the money should go to more deserving students than him. While I appreciated this student’s email, these are Federal Funds for our students and we can’t use them for anything else but for grant aid.  So we need to get it into the hands of our students and hopefully the ones who need it the most,” he said. 

The department of financial aid will review the applications and make the ultimate decision; upon approval, funds will be disbursed directly into student accounts. Students who are not currently affected by the crisis but expect to be in the future can look forward to a potential second wave of funds being offered, according to Dukes. Students can follow this link to apply.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

This week in completely made up horoscopes

 

[fruitful_tabs type=”accordion” width=”100%” fit=”false”]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aries 3/21-4/19″] What’s a sleep schedule? I wake up and I pass out when I want!! You don’t control me (ง’̀-‘́)ง [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Taurus 4/20-5/20″] Don’t get your horns in a wad… [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Gemini 5/21-6/20″] To that one professor who is acting like the world isn’t ending, I hope you run out of toilet paper. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Cancer 6/21-7/22″] I’m so bored, the Duolingo owl hasn’t even had to threaten me lately. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Leo 7/23-8/22″] HOI. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Virgo 8/23-9/22″] John Oliver is our lord and savior. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Libra 9/23-10/22″] I like looking at big numbers [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Scorpio 10/23-11/21″] Honestly, you shouldn’t be surprised at this point. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Sagittarius 11/22-12/21″] TESTICULAR MASS. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Capricorn 12/22-1/19″] My new schedule has me drinking my third cup of coffee by 11 a.m., but hey, such is life. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Aquarius 1/20-2/18″] We asked 100 college students are you Survivin’, Thrivin’, Dyin’? 

Number 1 answer: I have 15 assignments due on Sunday, you do the math. No seriously, please do my math homework. [/fruitful_tab]

[fruitful_tab title=”Pisces 2/19-3/20″] My name is Jerry. [/fruitful_tab]

[/fruitful_tabs]

Sweet smoothie recipes

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Smoothies are one of my favorite drinks — or is it considered food? They are great because there are multiple combinations to be made, not to mention they’re healthy. During this quarantine, smoothies can be an easy treat to make and alter, if there’s extra fruit lying around. Here are the basic steps to making a smoothie, along with some fruity combinations to try.

First, grab a blender. Then grab whatever fruit that will be used for the smoothie. Dice all of the fruit up into smaller chunks — they don’t have to be extremely small, just littler pieces than the whole fruit to help with blending.

Once the fruit is diced, add them to the blender along with a couple handfuls of ice cubes. Before blending, make sure the lid is secure to avoid a mess. Blend everything together — some blenders have ‘smoothie’ options, but I personally use the ‘puree’ mode. Adding liquid, such as juice or milk, can make the blending process easier and add more flavor.

There are also other things that can be added to smoothies other than fruits; sometimes I throw in vegetables like spinach and carrots to add extra vitamins. Other add-ins could be coconut, yogurt, flax, chia seeds or honey.

Once finished, pour into a cup — or make a smoothie bowl, if preferred — and enjoy.

 

 

COMBINATIONS:

  • Strawberry, banana, peach
  • Raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, strawberry
  • Orange, banana, pineapple, coconut
  • Mango, pineapple, peach, apple
  • Peach, strawberry, mango
  • Raspberry, strawberry, kiwi
  • Peach, coconut, mango
  • Pineapple, strawberry, orange

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photos by Rylie Horrall

How to relieve tension from sitting too long

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Many students may find themselves working for long periods at a desk or table. With our current pandemic, some may note that they’re sitting even longer than normal. While sitting at a table or a desk may be better than working on a bed — according to info.achs.edu, it can decrease productivity due to less space to organize study materials — staying there for long periods can cause the body to ache or become stiff. However, this can be combated by stretching in various ways.

An easy one I always do is a ‘one armed hug’; reach one arm across the body and place it on the opposite shoulder, then use the other arm to push back on the elbow. Another way to do it is to extend the arm out instead of placing it on the opposite shoulder, so it’s draped across the chest. 

A stretch I generally pair with the previous is one that I usually call an ‘up-and-over’ stretch. It’s done by putting one arm up and bending it back so the underside of the arm is facing the back of the head. Like the stretch before, use the opposite arm to push the elbow back, which will stretch the triceps.

To stretch the lower back, there’s a few options to help with stiffness and pain. There’s back extensions, which can be done a couple different ways — with palms placed flat against the lower back and then leaning back, or by interlocking hands above the head with palms facing the ceiling and pushing upwards. Both of these can be done while standing as well. Another option is a seated twist; by crossing one leg over the other then twisting the body towards the leg on top, this will stretch, and maybe pop, the lower back. Variations include crossing the arms over the chest, or using the arm of the chair to pull into a deeper stretch

For the legs, try sitting in an upright position and straightening the legs, then folding the body towards the toes. When I do this stretch, I like to try and touch my toes with my fingertips for a deeper stretch to my hamstrings. An important thing to keep in mind with this one is to keep the back as straight as possible.

There are some simple things that can be done while continuing to work or study. For instance, rotating the neck in a circle or even just tilting the head from side to side and front to back is an easy way to relieve neck pain caused by looking down for too long. Shrugging the shoulders and rolling them back can alleviate stiffness, and rotating the wrists in a circle counter-clockwise and then clockwise will help with pain.

An important thing to note is to pay attention to posture and to sit with the chair close to the desk or table to keep from hunching over. Sit back in the seat, and, if possible, try to keep a computer level with the eyes.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall

Live theatre available on Youtube

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

Theater has been a creative way to tell stories for centuries, and with the closure of theaters across the globe, many are missing the drama on stage. Luckily, there is a way to watch one of the most famous shows from the National Theatre in London, “Frankenstein.”

The show was originally performed and filmed in 2011; it was such an instantaneous hit that 800,000 people across the world experienced it. It was directed by Danny Boyle, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller as they take turns alternating in the roles between Victor Frankenstein and the creature.

The viewing for “Frankenstein” with Cumberbatch as the creature will air from April 30 at 7 p.m. to May 7 at 7 p.m. The alternate play with Miller as the creature will air May 1 at 7 p.m. to May 8 at 7 p.m.

These performances can be found on YouTube under the channel titled “National Theatre. Not only will they have “Frankenstein,” but they also have several live performances on their channels for viewing pleasure.

While watching a live play at home is not the same as sitting in an auditorium, it still offers the same entertainment value. Check out National Theatre’s Youtube channel for the other available plays.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Claire Nicholson

Western Howl’s songs to stay sane during quarantine

Compiled by The Western Howl staff

For those interested in checking out these songs, Western has a Spotify account with any playlists we have compiled. This playlist can be found under the account name TheWesternHowl and the playlist title “Finding Sanity.”

 

“Talia” — King Princess

“Fly Away” — Lenny Kravitz

“Boss Bitch” — Doja Cat

“Death Bed” — Powfu 

“I’m Ready” — Sam Smith, Demi Lovato

“Ordinary People” — John Legend

“I Want It That Way” — Backstreet Boys

“STFU!” — Rina Sawayama 

“Million Pieces” — Bastille

“Bohemian Rhapsody” — Queen

“Don’t Stop me Now” — Queen

“Let’s Go Crazy” — Prince

“I’m Not Okay” — Weathers

 

Photo by Rachel Hetzel

Need a distraction? Here are a list of the best comedies sure to help

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

  1. “I Love You, Man” (2009)

Directed by John Hamburg, “I Love You, Man” is a knee-slapping funny comedy, starring Paul Rudd, Jason Siegel, Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg and other big name actors. The film centers around Rudd’s character, Peter, who gets engaged to his girlfriend and it isn’t until the wedding planning begins when he realizes he doesn’t have many male friends. His journey to find his best man for the wedding includes a couple awkward ooooo man-dates, mistaken sexuality and the meeting of Siegel’s character, Sydney. This movie is full of awkwardness, strangeness and lots of Rush. Available on Amazon Prime.

 

  1. “Spy” (2015)

Paul Feig directed this masterpiece starring Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Jason Statham and other notable actors. The story revolves around McCarthy’s character, Susan, who works as a CIA analyst until her big moment comes where she must go undercover. The somewhat outlandish tale showcases German dancing, poison, ridiculous fake identities and most of all, empowerment. The movie is fun to watch as Susan becomes more confident and delivers intense battle scenes. Plot twists and intense action sequences padded by dry and witty humor is a crowd pleaser for all. Available on Youtube and Amazon Prime.

 

  1. “What We Do In The Shadows” (2014)

This masterpiece was created by two directors, Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, who also happen to play two of the vampires in this mockumentary. The concept of the film is that a group of vampires — mostly notorious ones at that — have permitted a film crew to come and observe their lives. Viago, an awkward, quirky and love-sick vampire, acts as a peacemaker in his flat. Vladislav, or better known as, “Vlad the Impaler” is sexual, old-fashioned and hurt by an ex. Petyr, or better known as Nosfaratu, resides in the house as well, he also made Deacon and Nick, the two youngest, into vampires. This mockumentary is clever, weird and timeless in cinema, capturing the bizarre in the most hilarious fashion. Available on Kanopy, a site free for students.

 

  1. “Between Two Ferns: The Movie” (2019)

Scott Aukerman, director of the show “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis” is also responsible for the movie adaptation. This mockumentary is painfully awkward with equal part hilarity. What could go wrong with having Galifianakis play himself while roasting different celebrities to please Will Ferrell? Prepare to be shocked, amused and horrified all at the same time; it is the perfect reward after a day’s worth of Zoom meetings and online readings. Word of advice, watch until the very end for hilarious bloopers. Available on Netflix.

 

  1. “Little Evil” (2017)

Eki Craig directed and wrote this modern tale of Antichrist hilarity, casting Adam Scott as Gary, a step dad struggling to connect with his twisted stepson, Lucas. This movie perfectly demonstrates common tropes around the Antichrist and uses references to horror films such as “Poltergeist” (1982) and “The Omen” (1976) to really draw in the audience. The obvious evilness of Lucas, the naiveness of his mother and a group of struggling stepdads who all see their children as the Antichrist make for one brilliant movie. Available on Netflix.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

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